Besides the purse and contingency prizes like the annual Donlin Gold halfway award in Nome, there will be a raffle giveaway of a half-acre of land and an accompanying “tiny house.” According to Jeff Johnson, Iron Dog president since August of 2018, the race costs about $400,000 to put on.

Johnson says after the future of the race was at a crossroads last summer, and the 2019 Iron Dog was uncertain, then, “a lot of generous donors and volunteers – and a lot of discipline later – we find ourselves not only back to good health, but also able to give back a little.”

This year’s lineup also includes racers with roots in Western Alaska, like Nicholas Reader of Nome, who has teamed up with Dietrich Nikolai of McGrath for his first go at the Iron Dog. Also competing in the world’s longest snowmachine race for the first time is Jarvis Miller of Nome, winner of the 2018 Nome-Golovin race, alongside his teammate Amos Cruise of McGrath, who has previously mined for gold in Nome. Fellow Nome-ite Michael Oliver is also on the roster, listed as a rookie on team 35 with veteran racer Jerrod Vaughn.

The start of the 2019 Iron Dog snowmachine race is set for 11am, February 17, at Deshka Landing.